Israel arrests 130 Palestinians in night raid

10:46AM BST 24 Jun 2003

Israeli troops have arrested more than 130 suspected Palestinian militants, amid accusations that Israel is trying to sabotage a ceasefire deal.

The raids in Nablus and Hebron, the two largest West Bank cities, were made without resistance and targeted the Islamic group Hamas, an army spokesman said. She said five more suspects were arrested in Nablus after clashes with gunmen.

Talks between top Israeli and Palestinian security officials ended late last night without a final agreement on a proposed Israeli withdrawal from the northern Gaza Strip and Bethlehem, in the West Bank.

Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas has been trying to persuade Hamas and other militant groups to call a temporary ceasefire with Israel to end a cycle of violence hindering the US-led "road map" peace plan.